What makes for a good, no actually great, workplace and leadership are two topics I’m very interested in. Yesterday I tweeted how something is fundamentally wrong if talented people start doubting themselves in the workplace. Unfortunately it happens.
Over the last few years I’ve heard a number of stories where really talented people have started doing just that, doubting their abilities. They haven’t been given the right opportunities or the support and leadership that they’ve needed and, as a result rather than grow within the company they have done the opposite. Not only does this impact them in their current workplace but it also affects them in their next move. And often, it gets to that. Not having any choice but to find another job.
Being unhappy about certain aspects related to your workplace seems to be the primary reason, in my experience, why people change jobs. You would have hoped that it would be from “it’s just time to move on”, but quite often it seems to be more related to frustrations and disappointment with regards to some very fundamental aspects that are missing. Aspects that concern being looked after as an employee and being given the opportunity to grow as an individual. Both very fundamental matters that should never exist as a problem in any workplace. More specifically some of the main causes appears to be a feeling of not being seen or listened to, and a lack of opportunity, particularly if combined with perceived favouritism towards others.
Process is another factor and so is pay however, mostly it seems to be mentioned as the justifiable “…and-I’m-not-even-paid-the-market-rate-so-why-should-I-stay” final straw. It’s a real shame as it means companies are loosing good people for reasons that could easily be avoided. Pay and process are a little bit more complicated of course, but general skills regarding how to look after your employees should run through the core of every company.
At the core of it, everyone is good at something. That is why a company hires you in the first place. Of course at times it turns out that the hire wasn’t a good fit, for either parties, and in that case it’s best to look for more suitable opportunities. But in most cases if someone is not coming to their right in a company it’s due to a of support and leadership. And that can be a very demotivating thing, which eventually can make you doubt yourself. One of the key things people want is a purpose. Something to work towards, both in their daily tasks and career wise. People want to know that they matter and are valued. And the measure for that isn’t necessarily money. Inc Magazine have written a great post on the subject called the 8 things your employees need most and they are, at their core very simple and fundamental things. It isn’t rocket science, but yet so many companies get it wrong. The reasons for this are not always straight forward and quit intricately linked involving process, leadership, management and financial circumstances. But however complicated the bigger picture is, something is fundamentally wrong when (really good) people start to doubt themselves. That should never happen. A company has hired you for a reason in the first place and though we as employees have a responsibility to look after our career, the primary responsibility lies with the company. To look after you and to make you grow, both inside the company and as a person. The opposite should never be allowed to happen.
Tomorrow – Day 326 | Using our skills to make a difference
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/fleecircus/4958962525
